Monday, June 4, 2012

4 June 2012 Letter (Bekescsaba)

Tuesday, 29 May
Three programs today. We actually started our day by
going to the bank and then the newspaper office so that D could help us get an
advertisement for English Class in the paper. We then met with E and had
a lesson on Happiness and Joy. Afterwards, Elder Vandermark and I left D
and rode our bikes out to try to squeeze emailing into our day.When we got back, we had lunch with D and
went with him to the train station. Now that he’s gone, it's back to just
the two of us. I'm glad D came. To be honest I was really impressed
by him. His great help to the work, sense of humor, love to talk,
willingness to discard humanly pride to help others smile and have a good, yet
clean time, his teaching skills and testimony, and his love for his fellow
Hungarians is a great miracle.After we
saw D off, we met with B. B got his old job back after talking to both
his bosses. They are now on better terms and more respecting and
understanding of each other. He is also doing well on his reading and
praying.Our last lesson was with M on
the Plan of Salvation. Every now and then, it's best to just review the
basics.

Wednesday, 30 May
W met with E, E, and K. All three programs varied in
detail, but the root message of the main parts of each of them focused on Sin
and Sorrow versus Righteousness and Joy. Today, pictures win the
miracle-seat. They allow me to see my friends' and family's faces almost
anytime. I can hang pictures of Christ or Temples above my desk and
bed. And they can help preserve the memories I make here.

Thursday, 31 May
Two programs, two cancellations. With G we discussed
the stories in the first few chapters of 1 Nephi. In Angolora, we spent a
while talking about service in an open discussion and I ended sharing a part of
King Benjamin's teachings on the same subject.I haven't written anything in my Book of 1000 and 1 Testimonies for
several weeks now. The Liahona-a-day is keeping me busy. Today has
left my soul very weary. I greatly sought knowledge and put effort into
learning, applying, and trying to feel the Atonement. I felt its healing
power and its humbling power more this morning than almost any other time in my
life. I hope this morning's trials and searching will eternally change
me. I need it. With the knowledge, gifts, opportunities, and
circumstances I have been given, I often feel that I am and have been living
below my potential and where I need to and should be. Yet today I know I
made progress and that's my miracle. I just hope it proves to be
lasting. This evening reflecting on it, I have noticed that I feel
greater love, from both the Savior as well as from those back home.

Friday, 1 June
Two programs today, but one cancelled. First was M.
We still aren't quite sure what his thoughts are about moving to Austria.
It sounds like he's still planning on it, he just doesn't know when. We
gave him a Book of Mormon and a Liahona and used the big picture in it to
discuss and teach Lehi's Dream of the Tree of Life.Second was Institute. Usually there are
only 5-6 of us, however today there were 8. We read different parts of
Psalms concerning prophecies of Christ, and then jumped to the New Testament to
read about the fulfilling of them.

Saturday, 2 June
Today can be broken down into three parts. We started
off our day with studies, so for me, reading Liahona's. The second part
was a Branch Bogracs/Picnic. Elder Vandermark and I went over early to
help start getting the food cooking and set things up. It was a good
thing we did; the food took five hours to cook. In the meanwhile, we all
talked, played with the dog, cat, and kitten, and played a card game called
"Ligretto", during which I earned the nickname "Vilam Kez"
(translates to "Lightning Hands"). My miracle was that over 25
people showed up, including B, K, and M. It was also cool that it was my
first Bogracs, delicious, and fed all of us, with there even being food left over.
The last stage of the day was
clean-up. Elder Vandermark and I stayed until after 8:00 cleaning up the
picnic, then the two of us biked back and cleaned the Branch House until
9:30. Yay cleaning. Today's Bogracs was a good meal to have before
tomorrow's Fast Sunday.

Sunday, 3 June
Today is my halfway point. 354 Days gone and 354 Days
to go. This has all been so fast.This
morning waking up at 3, 4, and 6:00 I discovered I am sick. I've found
that the only two times I really allow myself to sleep-in on my mission are
Super P-Days and when I'm sick. Luckily I'm already starting to feel
better. Fast and Testimony Meeting was pretty good today. A good
number of members shared their testimonies, as well as B.My miracle today was a realization that I
have made and had friends in every major area of my life: as a child,
elementary school, junior high, high school, in our cul-de-sac, at church, in
fencing, at college, and now during my mission. While I may feel alone
and the odd-one-out at times, Heavenly Father has never suffered me to actually
be alone. That's always a happy thought for me to remember.

That's all for this week. We're going to try to go to
Gyula and to a castle today. Hope you all have a good day too.

Szeretettel,

Shipp Elder

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